UK’s Starmer faces biggest challenge yet as resignation threat overshadows King’s Speech

(Reuters)

LONDON, May 13 – Keir Starmer faced his biggest challenge yet on Wednesday when his health minister ​was reported to be readying his resignation to try to trigger a contest to replace a British prime minister who had sought some respite to set out his ‌government’s agenda.

As Starmer and his ministers stood in silence to hear King Charles read out their government’s agenda, the ceremony was overshadowed by what could be the most dangerous threat to the prime minister since lawmakers began urging him to resign over one of Labour’s worst defeats in last week’s local elections.

The report in the Times newspaper that health minister Wes Streeting was preparing to resign as early as Thursday to mount a formal leadership challenge could mean the Starmer ​government’s agenda, outlined by Charles amid much pomp and ceremony, might never be implemented.

Streeting’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

British government bond futures fell sharply on ​the report, erasing their day’s gains, as did 20- and 30-year government bonds, while the pound weakened against the euro.

Earlier, Streeting had briefly met Starmer ⁠at the prime minister’s Downing Street office but the health minister’s team said he would not comment on that meeting to make sure he did not distract from the King’s Speech.

Streeting took to ​X to promote his achievements in tackling waiting times for Britain’s state-run health service. “Lots done, lots to do,” he wrote, failing to address the report.